- #1
njdcat
- 7
- 0
Hi guys, currently trying to figure out part of my lab for Physics I. We used the program Tracker to gather information on a metal ball rolling down a metal track and through a loop. The origin was set at the bottom perpendicular to the top of the angled track where x and y = 0. Here is the data I gathered:
Obviously to calculate the KE and PE I have been using 1/2mv2 and mgh. The ball weighs about 28.4 grams. However, I have been getting some pretty strange KE and PE numbers that don't follow the conservation of energy. I think what is tripping me up is that the ball at first rolls down an angled track and then enters circular motion. I also suspect that Tracker did not calculate the velocity correctly (those numbers seem odd to me). I am supposed to calculate the normal force acting on the ball at the bottom and top of the loop.
I at first calculated the acceleration using a=v2/r. I wanted to calculate the normal force at the bottom of the loop using Fnorm=Fgrav+Fnet. I calculated Fgrav using (m)(g) fairly easily. However, the acceleration numbers that I calculated to determine Fnet just seem odd to me, which is why I suspect that my weird velocity numbers are incorrect, thereby throwing off my KE and PE calculations. Is it possible I am using the KE and PE equations incorrectly in terms of this problem or plugging in the numbers incorrectly? Physics is not my strong suit. Thanks for the help.
Obviously to calculate the KE and PE I have been using 1/2mv2 and mgh. The ball weighs about 28.4 grams. However, I have been getting some pretty strange KE and PE numbers that don't follow the conservation of energy. I think what is tripping me up is that the ball at first rolls down an angled track and then enters circular motion. I also suspect that Tracker did not calculate the velocity correctly (those numbers seem odd to me). I am supposed to calculate the normal force acting on the ball at the bottom and top of the loop.
I at first calculated the acceleration using a=v2/r. I wanted to calculate the normal force at the bottom of the loop using Fnorm=Fgrav+Fnet. I calculated Fgrav using (m)(g) fairly easily. However, the acceleration numbers that I calculated to determine Fnet just seem odd to me, which is why I suspect that my weird velocity numbers are incorrect, thereby throwing off my KE and PE calculations. Is it possible I am using the KE and PE equations incorrectly in terms of this problem or plugging in the numbers incorrectly? Physics is not my strong suit. Thanks for the help.